[2000-12-31-Inoki Bom-Ba-Ye] Mark Coleman & Mark Kerr vs Yuji Nagata & Takashi Iizuka

[Edwin]

Talk about it here.

[GSR]

Mark Coleman is wearing a Goldberg T-shirt and carrying a title belt, which I think is most likely the Pride Open Weight Grand Prix tournament belt that he won back in May.  Iizuka backs into a corner off an early takedown attempt, so Coleman just picks him up and slams him to the canvas.  ‘Can opener’ but they’re too close to the ropes.  Iizuka shoots for a takedown of his own only to get slammed to the mat again, this time after a great gut wrench suplex.  He takes to the outside, visibly frustrated that ‘the Hammer’ keeps getting the better of him.  Kerr, never a kicker in his MMA career, throws one which is caught by Iizuka, and with him hopping about on one leg tags in Nagata who drags him down to the mat.  Armbar which Kerr initially tries to roll and reverse his way out of before deciding to reach for the ropes instead.  Takedown by Kerr and he throws a few strikes form inside Nagata’s guard however leaves an arm dangling which Yuji snatches, applying a second armbar.  This one looks more dangerous than the first, but again Kerr utilizes the ropes for the break.  Iizuka, feeling like he’s something to prove after earlier, unloads with everything he’s got on Kerr, stomping a mud hole in him and not letting him catch a moment’s breath.  He tags Coleman who vaults over the top rope and you can hear the energy levels rise in the crowd as he does so.  Awesome belly to belly from ‘the Hammer’ and Iizuka is forced to turtle up as ‘the Godfather of Ground & Pound’ lives up to another of his nick names.  A couple of knees to the ribs followed by an armbar and even though they’re already in the ropes, Coleman is not too quick on the release.  Nagata with a flurry of headbutts that stun Coleman, leg trip and he keeps hold of that leg as he looks for a submission.  ‘The Hammer’ rolls out for the escape and then tees off on Nagata, alternating punches to the body and head.  Nagata crumples in the corner but Coleman’s relentless with his attack, even dishing out some headbutts as payback for those ones he gave him.  Belly to belly by Kerr and this one looked even more awesome than Coleman’s.  Armbar and Iizuka is in for the save.  Nagata with a release Northern Lights on Kerr.  Exploder by Iizuka and finally something other than an armbar as he locks on a heel hook.  Coleman saves Kerr this time out and a double team dropkick on ‘the Hammer’ (Nagata holding him) as the pro wrestlers return to their roots.  A left kick to the head drops Coleman and the crowd pops big for that.  Nagata concentrates on his kicks, where he’s had the most success, until Coleman times his tackle, lifting Yuji off his feet and then slamming him hard to the mat.  Some more G&P before Coleman gets the tap with a neck crank.

A tale of two Mark’s, one who shows a ton of aptitude for professional wrestling and would’ve been an awesome pro wrestler had he decided to go that route, one who has some nice suplexes but is generally pretty bland.  Cagematch lists this as Coleman’s debut and he’s a natural right from the off (he actually ended up wrestling more than I knew, though would never class him as a regular).  He’s got intensity, agility, fire, power, aggression and an aura of a seriously bad mofo who’s not to be messed with.  I’m not sure how many would’ve picked up on these, but there were also some nice call backs to the early days of his UFC career with the can opener submission attempt, the ground & pound, the headbutts (before they were banned) and finally getting dropped by the Nagata high kick (just like Pete Williams dropped him).  I’ll absolutely be watching Coleman’s singles match with Nagata from July ’01 after this, and easily the best of the matches from Bom-Ba-Ye that I have watched so far.